Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU) wants all trade unions in the country to hold street demonstrations to condemn the recent attack on protesting doctors in Nairobi.
KCGWU General Secretary Roba Duba called on the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) to lead the demonstrations.
In a statement, Duba condemned the brutality police meted out on members of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU).
“….particularly, the crude, grim and brutal bodily harm done on a comrade, Davji Atellah the Secretary-General, on February 29, 2024, as they were exercising their constitutional right to assemble, demonstrate and picket as provided under Article 37 and 41 of the Kenyan Constitution 2010,” he said.
Duba said it was appalling and inexcusable that the police acted with such force on innocent workers who were not armed but merely exercising their democratic and labour rights.
“We call on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to rein in on such action by the police and further initiate investigations on the matter with a view of bringing to book the police officer/s who perpetrated this heinous act,” he urged.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has since asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to issue an apology following the incident.
“Additionally, we call for a thorough investigation into this incident and urge that appropriate action be taken against the officer(s) responsible for this reprehensible act,” he added.
Atwoli termed the actions by the police as not only regrettable but also a flagrant violation of the spirit of the Constitution.
He explained that such actions stand in direct contradiction to the principles enshrined in ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which advocate for the freedom of association, collective bargaining, and protection against anti-union discrimination.
Attellah is said to have been hit by a teargas canister sustaining deep cuts in the forehead as police dispersed medical interns who were protesting in Nairobi.
He was leading the procession of the interns who are yet to be posted accompanied by other KMPDU officials.
KMPDU said they had written to the Nairobi area regional police commander to provide security during the procession.
According to the union, 1,215 medical interns are awaiting posting with some having waited for either six months or one year.
Hell broke loose when the procession was along Harambee Avenue and headed to the Treasury Building to present their grievances to the relevant officials.
The procession had started from the KMA centre to the Ministry of Health before they proceeded to the Treasury Building.